San Diego State women’s basketball defeated Colorado State 64-61 on Wednesday night at Viejas Arena, surviving a back-and-forth contest that featured 13 lead changes and nine ties.

Junior forward Maria Konstantinidou credited preparation and team defense as key factors in the win.

“We knew what they did better than they do, so we executed the game plan, especially defense,” Konstantinidou said. “We created shots for each other and just playing as a team that really helped.”

Preparing for the Rams, the Aztecs reviewed scouting tape and studied Colorado State’s tendencies while also focusing on their own adjustments.

“Knowing what their tendencies are and then also offensively knowing what our tendency should be and how to bear their defense and score more,” Konstantinidou said.

Colorado State won the jumpball and scored the first bucket of the night by senior guard Hannah Ronsiek. The Aztecs responded on the following possession when sophomore guard Naomi Panganiban scored off an assist from sophomore forward Bailey Barnhard to tie the game 2-2.

The game went back and forth throughout. The Aztecs’ largest lead was six points in the fourth quarter, while the Rams’ biggest advantage was four points in the second.

Fouls became an issue for both teams. By the end of the first quarter, SDSU had committed three fouls and Colorado State had six fouls, allowing the Aztecs to score seven points from the free-throw line.

By the end of the first quarter, the Aztecs led by two points: 18-16

Senior guard Nala Williams set the tone early in the second quarter, hitting a three-pointer 41 seconds in. Once again, the second quarter was back-and-forth scoring, with each team answering the other’s baskets.

After Williams’ three-pointer, the Aztecs dialed down and the Rams had a moment to shine, scoring seven straight points while the Aztecs went through a scoring drought. Williams ended the drought with a three-pointer, assisted by sophomore guard CJ Latta, cutting the score close to 25-24.

On the next possession, Barnhard was fouled by Ronsiek while making a shot. Barnhard converted the free throw to complete the three-point play and give the Aztecs a 27-25 lead.

The Scarlet and Black led 30-28 at halftime.

The Aztecs’ main concern entering the second half was foul trouble. Panganiban, who’s a starter, had accumulated three fouls, forcing others to step up.

“We played without one of our starters for quite a bit of time, with her being in foul trouble,” head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson said. “I thought Kaelyn came in [and] stepped in, Alyssa came in, I think CJ came in for a little bit. So we were able to play around that when things got tough.”

The third quarter remained tight, featuring multiple ties and lead changes. It was the only quarter in which the Rams outscored the Aztecs, 21-18.

“There were some good parts of that third quarter, but it was just good basketball,” Terry-Hutson said. “It was just kind of back-and-forth in that quarter and none of us could really get a good stop.”

Bargesser opened the quarter with a three-pointer to give the Rams a 31-30 lead. On the next possession, sophomore guard Kaelyn Hamilton went for a layup and drew a foul by Ronsiek. Hamilton made the free throw to complete the three-point play and give SDSU a 33-31 lead.

Moments later, sophomore guard Brooke Carlson hit a jumper to tie the game at 33. Hamilton responded with a three-point jumper, assisted by Barnhard, to put the Aztecs up once again, 36-33.

Throughout the third quarter, the Aztecs stayed close in scoring points with their three-pointers. Hamilton, Panganiban and sophomore guard Nat Martinez each made one three-pointer. By the end of the third quarter, the Aztecs trailed the Rams by one point, 47-48.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Hamilton scored a three-pointer off an assist from Williams.

After the Rams missed a jumper, Konstantinidou grabbed the rebound and Williams converted a jumper to extend the lead to 53-49.

Slowly, the Rams were unable to tie or retake the lead in the last quarter as the Aztecs secured the 64-61 win.

The Scarlet and Black finished the game shooting 44.2% from the field, 36.6% from three-pointers and 78.6% from the free-throw line. As the Rams shot 37.7% from the field, 26.3% inthree-pointers and 80% from free throws.

Toughness was key for the Aztecs, who knew they had to defend the Rams despite a height disadvantage.

“We knew we were going to be in situations where our point guard was on their big,” Terry-Hutson said.

The Aztecs will travel to face off against the Nevada Wolfpack on Saturday at 1 p.m. before returning to Viejas Arena to host UNLV on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m.

“I want to call out our students here at San Diego State because we need your help,” Terry-Hutson said. “We have a huge game next Wednesday against UNLV. We really want to create a home-court advantage. This could be a game for first place.”